Underwater Noise
Monitoring of noise input into the sea
Due to the intended energy revolution Germany seeks to realize, the expansion of renewable energy sources is both, politically and economically, heavily being pushed in Germany. In order to meet the aims of the energy revolution, a significant share of the future electricity demand shall be covered by the expansion of offshore wind farms.
The construction and the operation of offshore wind farms cause considerable noise inputs into the surrounding waters, in addition to the already existent shipping noise. This results in a continuously increasing noise exposure of the seas, which can have negative impacts on the marine animals.
Germany is the first country worldwide, which has defined a limit value for impulsive noise inputs into the water in 2011. Therefore, a biological monitoring is usually required. The metrological record of underwater noise becomes more and more a main descriptor, which increasingly takes on significance.
